The United States has pledged at least P3 billion ($60 million) in new foreign assistance for the Philippines, marking the first foreign aid announcement under the Trump administration’s recalibrated global assistance policy.

The funding was announced by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio following his meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Washington, D.C. on 21 July. The initiative is aimed at boosting energy, maritime security, and economic growth in the Philippines.

“This is a strong signal of the U.S. government’s continued commitment to strengthening the U.S.-Philippines alliance, particularly in critical areas like infrastructure, energy, and private sector development,” said Rubio.

As part of the package, the U.S. Department of State intends to work with Congress to allocate an additional P825 million ($15 million) to help catalyze investments in the Luzon Economic Corridor — a region seen as vital for logistics, energy, transportation, and semiconductor manufacturing. If approved, the funds are expected to generate new jobs and drive long-term economic development.

The foreign aid announcement follows a series of high-level meetings between President Marcos and top U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, Secretary Rubio, and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The talks reaffirmed Washington’s “ironclad commitment” to its alliance with Manila and signaled a renewed push for deeper economic engagement between the two countries.

The Luzon Economic Corridor is part of broader regional initiatives that seek to counterbalance China’s influence in Asia by reinforcing economic and security cooperation among democratic allies.